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hunterjoe21 Super Member
Joined: Mar 30, 2007 Posts: 1486 Location: Miles City, Montana
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Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2012 7:06 pm Post subject: Magazine Rotation |
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Just curious...
What is your preferred method of rotating magazines in your handguns?
I haven't been shooting as much as I would like (work and the price of ammo is killin' me) so my magazines have not been getting enough exercise lately. I keep two for loaded for each gun and "rest" the others. How often should they be rotated?
Also, a so called "expert" recommended I download hi-cap magazines by one round (15 rounds in my XD-M 16 round mags) in order to prolong the life of the magazine spring. Sounded like it made sense, but I thought I would ask the folks here their opinion of this practice.
Any thoughts or recommendations are greatly appreciated.
_________________ My 1911 is more effective than your 911. |
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Pumpkinslinger Super Member
Joined: Sep 22, 2007 Posts: 5002 Location: NC foothills
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Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2012 7:31 pm Post subject: Re: Magazine Rotation |
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Here's what a gun spring company, Wolff, says:
www.gunsprings.com/faq#Faq5
I've got a 17 round Ruger SR9 spring that has probably been loaded for 18-24 months. Next time I get to go to the range I'll try it.
_________________ Mike
"I ain't no better than anybody else, and there ain't nobody better than me!" Ma Kettle |
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inthedark Super Member
Joined: Jan 31, 2011 Posts: 917 Location: Ontario
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Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2012 11:13 pm Post subject: Re: Magazine Rotation |
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On my duty sidearm S&W 5946 9mm with 15 round mags, I found that after a month of having them loaded that when I went to the range and fired that the last 2 or 3 rounds wouldn't get picked up properly because of spring compression. Keeping one round less than what the capacity is will relieve a good amount of stress on the spring. And I believe you are on the right track with rotating your mags every couple of weeks will extend the life of your mags IMHO.
_________________ Chimo
Ron
War is sweet to those who have no experience of it, but the experienced man trembles exceedingly at heart on its approach - Pindar 518-438 BC
Be Copy now of Men of Grosser Blood and TEACH THEM HOW TO WAR |
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Elvis Super Member
Joined: Jul 27, 2008 Posts: 9259 Location: south island New Zealand
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Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2012 2:14 am Post subject: Re: Magazine Rotation |
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I have a standing joke with my brother in law when we go hunting. I always ask if his magazine is loaded and the scope is clear when we reach the hunting area, and ask if its unloaded when we leave. with a single shot break open rifle with open sights he sees the funny side of it.
I always unload my magazines and dont leave any rounds in them other than when in use. 24-36hrs would probably be the longest they stay full.I guess for home defence firearms you could use a s/s shotty but you will eventually be asking the same question about firing springs, which I let off on my bolts when in storage too.
_________________ You shot it You pluck it !
Them who eats the most duck eats the most feathers! |
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Vince Site Admin
Joined: May 25, 2005 Posts: 15723 Location: Brisbane AUSTRALIA
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Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2012 3:18 am Post subject: Re: Magazine Rotation |
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Any firearm spring is liable to loose tension over time if put under constant load...magazine spring or firing pin spring.
I always ensure that my magazines are unloaded, and actually remove the bolts from my rifles (that's how they got left at home one hunt ) and I also fire the actions on my shotgun (using snap caps of course) before dismantling it and putting it away.
As for carry pistols...I would suggest rotating magazines on a monthly basis, leaving those not being carried at the time empty, allowing the spring to "rest".
Cheers, Vince
_________________ Cheers, Vince
Illegitimi non carborundum
(Never let the bastards grind you down)
Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God.
"Nulla Si Fa Senza Volonta."
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lesterg3 Super Member
Joined: Nov 30, 2008 Posts: 1328 Location: Dixie
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Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2012 5:08 am Post subject: Re: Magazine Rotation |
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Well how about that you can teach an old dog a new trick.
Yep, on my rifles I never leave the firing pin spring compressed, but I am not really a handgun guy. Lots of them around here and in the cars but never gave a thought to the magazine. I will remedy that situation.
Thanks.
_________________ "A democracy is nothing more than mob rule, where fifty-one percent of the people may take away the rights of the other forty-nine. "--Thomas Jefferson
The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government. -- Thomas Jefferson
"Americans have the right and advantage of being armed - unlike the citizens of other countries whose governments are afraid to trust the people with arms."--James Madison
"The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants." Thomas Jefferson.
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Bushmaster Super Member
Joined: Jun 12, 2005 Posts: 11394 Location: Ava, Missouri
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Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2012 9:42 am Post subject: Re: Magazine Rotation |
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The only "magazine rotation" I practice is to remove the magazine from my belt pouch and remove the one from my carry piece and trade them. The last time I unloaded and reloaded them was because I was practicing (which I do often). Otherwise then that they never are unloaded.
No spring problems. The only time you might have a weak spring develope is if you are constantly loading and unloading spring tension. Constantly loaded springs don't develope a "set" or weaken. Only those that are continually flexed. That's what kills springs.
_________________ I have one nerve left and yer standin' on it...
DEMOCRACY Two wolves and one sheep voting on what to have for lunch...
LIBERTY A well armed sheep contesting the outcome of the vote... |
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Joe Boleo Super Member
Joined: Dec 25, 2006 Posts: 427 Location: Pennsylvania
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Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2012 9:44 am Post subject: Re: Magazine Rotation |
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I usually switch off magazines every month or so. I have a 1911A1 as a carry gun and do not worry too much about it. I once saw a 1911 magazine that was loaded since WWII and it functioned perfectly. My other carry gun is a revolver so magazine rotation is not an issue. Take care...
Joe
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Ominivision1 Super Member
Joined: Sep 20, 2010 Posts: 2984 Location: Iowa
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Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2012 3:00 pm Post subject: Re: Magazine Rotation |
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I also never unload my magazines from my autos except at the range, never had a problem and like Bushy says, you cause wear by unloading and loading.
_________________ Regards
Limitations are but boundaries created inside our minds. |
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inthedark Super Member
Joined: Jan 31, 2011 Posts: 917 Location: Ontario
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Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2012 9:38 pm Post subject: Re: Magazine Rotation |
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Bushmaster wrote: |
The only "magazine rotation" I practice is to remove the magazine from my belt pouch and remove the one from my carry piece and trade them. The last time I unloaded and reloaded them was because I was practicing (which I do often). Otherwise then that they never are unloaded.
No spring problems. The only time you might have a weak spring develope is if you are constantly loading and unloading spring tension. Constantly loaded springs don't develope a "set" or weaken. Only those that are continually flexed. That's what kills springs. |
Bushy, Is that work hardening the springs and making them brittle?
Coil springs will loose their springyness when compressed for a long period of time and that is usually from poor steel processing. So says my wife who used to work in a spring factory in southern ontario. She said that QA/QC would sometimes come and condemn entire lots of springs and SWMBO would be loading them up to be re smelted again.
_________________ Chimo
Ron
War is sweet to those who have no experience of it, but the experienced man trembles exceedingly at heart on its approach - Pindar 518-438 BC
Be Copy now of Men of Grosser Blood and TEACH THEM HOW TO WAR |
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Bushmaster Super Member
Joined: Jun 12, 2005 Posts: 11394 Location: Ava, Missouri
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Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2012 9:54 pm Post subject: Re: Magazine Rotation |
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Quality spring steel will only weaken and develope a "set" if it is flexed many times over a period of time. A loaded magazine that remains loaded (full) will not develope a "set". It has been noted many times and once on this thread, that WW-II .45 ACP magazines that have been left loaded all these years function as new. I have two of the WW-II magazines and They works perfectly in my Colt Series 80 1911.
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_________________ I have one nerve left and yer standin' on it...
DEMOCRACY Two wolves and one sheep voting on what to have for lunch...
LIBERTY A well armed sheep contesting the outcome of the vote... |
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Elvis Super Member
Joined: Jul 27, 2008 Posts: 9259 Location: south island New Zealand
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Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2012 10:09 pm Post subject: Re: Magazine Rotation |
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they sure knew how to build them back then.
very nice looking gun Bushy I am green with envy as we arent allowed them over here without a whole heap of BS.
_________________ You shot it You pluck it !
Them who eats the most duck eats the most feathers! |
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slimjim Super Member
Joined: May 16, 2009 Posts: 8316 Location: Fort Worth TX
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Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2012 10:18 pm Post subject: Re: Magazine Rotation |
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Elvis wrote: |
I have a standing joke with my brother in law |
Elvis, I didn't know you have a brother in law enforcement.
Like the Wolff FOQ that Pkslinger posted said, magazine springs are critical in hi-capacity semi-autos. Bushy, 7-shot 1911s aren't in this category. There needs to be enough spring force remaining on the last few rounds to keep the bullet nose elevated to the proper angle to enter the chamber. Regardless if you leave your mags loaded, partially loaded, or unloaded, I would recommend checking the mags once a year for proper function. A sign of a weak spring is a bullet jam several rounds into the mag's capacity and it won't feed until empty. I have Glocks for 15 years. I have learned to check every mag once a year to ensure flawless funtioning to the last round. If a mag won't do that, it needs a new spring. I have probably changed out the springs on every mag and I know I've done it twice on one mag.
_________________ "To anger a conservative, lie to him. To anger a liberal, tell him the truth." - Theodore Roosevelt
"The world is a dangerous place to live; not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don't do anything about it." - Albert Einstein
Last edited by slimjim on Sun Feb 19, 2012 10:03 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Elvis Super Member
Joined: Jul 27, 2008 Posts: 9259 Location: south island New Zealand
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Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2012 10:25 pm Post subject: Re: Magazine Rotation |
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ok slim please enlighten me as to my incorrect grammer???
and by the way how do you" leaver your mags loaded"??
does that have some reference to the 30/30???
_________________ You shot it You pluck it !
Them who eats the most duck eats the most feathers! |
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Bushmaster Super Member
Joined: Jun 12, 2005 Posts: 11394 Location: Ava, Missouri
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Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2012 10:34 pm Post subject: Re: Magazine Rotation |
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slimjim...There are people [that I know] who have half their gun safe filled with 30 round magazines loaded for their AK's and AR's. They don't seem to have a problem.
And Elvis...Keep the trusty .30-30 out of this...
_________________ I have one nerve left and yer standin' on it...
DEMOCRACY Two wolves and one sheep voting on what to have for lunch...
LIBERTY A well armed sheep contesting the outcome of the vote... |
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